Investment banker John Wylie, former federal minister Greg Combet and Monash University's Margaret Gardner will spearhead a plan to bring global companies to Victoria, as state Treasurer Tim Pallas prepares to fight a $7 billion wallop from coronovirus.

The plan is being launched as Mr Pallas abandons talk of a surplus and Premier Daniel Andrews reiterates it is a matter of when, not if, schools, universities, workplaces, public transport and events are closed.